Keeping Your Dignity, Figure, and Mental Health by Incorporating Yoga and Stretching into Your Daily Work Routine

Eight hours a day behind a desk not only holds the potential to drain you mentally, but it can be slaughter on your thighs, hips, and the beloved Gluteus I've been sitting for hours, no wonder it's-Maximus region. Also, typing away can wreak havoc on your wrists, and staring at the monitor for hours isn't so great on the eyes either. What's a girl (or guy) to do under such extreme measures? Keep your dignity, figure, and mental health by incorporating the following techniques into your daily work routine:

Move your body.

Blood carries oxygen, oxygen delivers energy. Lack of movement not only drains your physical energy, but your mental energy as well. A quick pick up that will take care of both energies is yoga and stretching- and this time you don't have to don unflattering (albeit extremely comfy) yoga clothes and join a group of human pretzels. Trying the following moves will melt tension, and get you through another day of obnoxious coworkers (you know, the girl in the cubical next to you singing off-key while painting her toenails) and demanding schedules.

"Twisted" (Chair Twist): Aids in stress relief, and digestion.

Sitting in good posture with feet planted twist either to the right or left slowly. Place hands either on your arm rest or on the side of the chair back as you ease into the stretch, hold for 6 slow and full breaths. Repeat twice, alternating sides each time (four stretches total).

"Show Me Those Legs" (Calf raises): increases blood flow, tones muscle.

Standing behind your chair, rise up on both toes and try to hold for 6 breaths. Slowly return to flat feet, Repeat twice. Next, rise up on toes of only one foot; leaving the opposite foot flat on the ground (you're doing it right if you look like you've been waiting in line for a restroom for an hour). Alternate single calf raises four times holding each raise for 3 full breaths.

"Ready for Flight" (Shoulder to hand stretch): increases blood flow, stress relief.

Interlace your fingers and rotate hands so palms are facing outwards. Maintaining good posture (straight back), stretch arms with fingers interlaced as far out in front of you as possible. It is ok if your shoulders come up by your ears a bit; this deepens the stretch into the back. You should feel tension release in your forearms, shoulders, and maybe even into the upper back. Hold stretch for as many breaths desired and as long as it feels good, but do your best not to yawn if your boss is near.

Rest and Test your Eyes

The longer you stare at a computer screen, the drier and more tired your eyes become. Consciously try to take a break every 30 minutes to an hour to rest your eyes (that is not codeword for sleep). Look away from the screen and focus in on different objects at different distances (focus on one object at a time, too many will make you look like a crazed maniac), be sure that you are focusing on objects that aren't next to each other (moving your eye just in a line won't accomplish what we're after here). If no one is looking, or you just don't care, make faces at yourself. Open your eyes wide, then squint them very small, without moving your head look up then down, and look left then right. You may look silly, but your eyes will feel as though you just gave them a good nap.

Above all, it is your health and sanity at risk here, take control and give yourself breaks now and then. Your boss will be much happier if you take a 5 minute walk about the office than if you were to become frazzled and walk out on the job altogether.